Energy Efficiency Technologies for Industry and Tertiary Sectors: the European Experience and Perspective for the Future

This paper reports practical examples of energy saving systems implemented in Europe by combined actions in both facilities and process equipment. The basic technologies employed can be widely applied to industry and tertiary sectors with slight modifications. Based on these experiences, prospects for further energy savings are presented focusing on renewable energy applications, new energy storage systems, the use of information technology and power electronics to improve plant control systems, new technologies such as a wider use of electricity instead of thermal energy from fuels. The use of electricity is encouraged by the continuous increase of utility plant efficiency up to 60% and also by the main beneficial environmental features of a concentrated emission production. A similar approach can also be used for buildings whose consumptions are expected to drop down to 30-40% of the current ones.